Objective To observe the effects of thunder-fire moxibustion on the visual analogue scale(VAS) score

Young's modulus of multifidus and 6 m walking speed in the patients of osteoporosis with low skeletal muscle mass. Methods Sixty patients of osteoporosis with low skeletal muscle mass were randomly divided into a medication group(30 cases) and a medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group(30 cases). In the medication group

caltrate was prescribed for oral administration

2 tablets/day(600 mg/tablet)

for 4 weeks. In the medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group

on the base of oral administration with caltrate

thunder-fire moxibustion was exerted at Mingmen(GV4)

Yaoyangguan(GV3)

and bilateral Shenshu(BL23)

Ganshu(BL18) and Dachangshu(BL25)

30 minutes at GV4

GV3 and BL18

and another 30 minutes at BL23 and BL25

once every other day

3 times a week for 4 weeks. Before and after the treatment

VAS score

Young's modulus of the 4

(th)

lumbar multifidus and the average speed of 6 m walking were assessed. Results After the treatment

the VAS score was decreased(P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01) and the speed of 6 m walking was increased(P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01) in both groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment. Compared with the medication group

VAS score was decreased remarkably(P

<

0.05) and the speed of 6 m walking remarkably increased(P

<

0.01) in the medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group after the treatment. Self-comparison showed that

compared with the same side before the treatment

the value of Young's modulus after the treatment was decreased on both sides in the medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group(P

<

0.01). After the treatment

compared with the medication group on the same side

the value of Young's modulus was decreased on both sides(P

<

0.01) in the medication+thunder-fire moxibustion group. Conclusion Thunder-fire moxibustion can relieve pain intensity

decrease the tension of the multifidus

and increase the walking speed.